Texas OilMan's Bride (Mail Order Bride Series) by Susan Leigh Carlton

like him and enjoy his company.  I don’t know what kind of relationship we could have with him in Beaumont and me in Houston.”
     
    “I don’t know whether I like the idea of you seeing him,” Johnny said.
     
    “I really don’t care whether you like it or not.  It isn’t any of your business.  It’s obvious you’re no expert in dealing with the opposite sex.”
     
    “What do you mean by that?” he asked.
     
    “I’m talking about the way you’ve treated Laura.  She’s an extremely nice girl who happens to be brilliant, as well as beautiful.  All she wants is to work with you and learn from you, yet you push her aside and assign her to some meaningless report.”
     
    “That report was not meaningless,” he protested.
     
    “Maybe not, but it didn’t need two people working on it.”
     
    “That’s not for you to decide.  I had to have something for her to do, so that I could work on the blowout preventer.”
     
    “And she couldn’t have helped with that?  Come on Johnny.  Don’t bullshit me.  I’m a lawyer, remember?  I’m an expert in that field.  You just don’t want to work with anyone.  You're selfish and rude on top of that.”
     
    “You’re right about one thing.  I don’t like to work with anyone.”
     
    “Why?  Are you afraid they’ll have an idea better than yours?  Aren’t you paid to get the best from the resources you have available?  Are you telling me you get the best from all of the resources you have. 
     
    This is pointless, and I’m tired of arguing with you.  I’m going to call Bill to come get me.  I’ll stay with him until I go back to Houston.”
     
    “You don’t mean that,” he said.  “You’re sleeping with him, aren’t you?”
     
    “I’m not, but it wouldn’t be any of your business if I were.  I like Bill.  He’s been a gentleman in every way.  More than I can say about you.”
     
    He sat on the couch, his head in his hands.  “Laura brings out the worst in me,” he said.  She bothers me when she’s around, I worry about her when she’s not.  Tonight, when I walked her home, I kissed her.  I didn’t even think about it or plan it.  I just kissed her.”
     
    “How did she take that?” Rebecca asked.
     
    He rubbed his jaw, still smarting from the hard slap she had given him.  “She slapped me.  Hard.”
     
    Rebecca laughed.  “Good for her.  You had it coming.  What are you going to do about it?”
     
    “I’m going to stay at least an arm’s length away from her for one thing,” he said.  “Beyond that, I don’t know.  She’s the smartest person I’ve worked with, probably better right now than any of the men in the department.”
     
    “I’ve never thought of you even remotely as being a fool, Johnny.  Stupid at times, certainly arrogant, but you’re a fool if you don’t take advantage of the talents she has.  I like her, and she thinks you’re the best in the business.”
     
    The next morning…
     
    Johnny went to the work area where Chuck and Laura were reviewing some specifications of a new property.  “Laura, do you have a few minutes?  I’d like to talk to you.”
     
    “Sure, I can break away.  Chuck doesn’t really need me for this,” she said.
     
    “Let’s get a cup of coffee and go back to my office,” he said. 
     
    Back in his office, he said, “About last night… I was way out of line.  I don’t know what came over me.  I was kissing you before I realized what I was doing.  It shows a complete lack of respect on my part.”
     
    Uncomfortable with the conversation, Laura was silent for a minute before she said.  “I was surprised, no, make that really surprised.  I’m not going to apologize for slapping you.  You had it coming.”
     
    “I did have it coming.  It has been called to my attention rather strongly, that I have treated you in an unprofessional manner from the beginning.  For that, I also apologize.  I’d like to start over, if I